The purpose of human hair is to help insulate your head during cold weather, and with nearly 140,000 individual hairs in the average human head hair protection is a multi-billion dollar industry. Hair loss can happen in both men and women; however, men are more likely to experience widespread hair loss.
While hair loss is typically a side effect of aging, heredity or lifestyle choices, you can use certain supplements to help prevent or reduce hair loss severity. L-lysine is an important amino acid, and proponents of this compound claim it can be used to help restore hair growth. Although L-lysine is a vital compound, make sure you discuss supplementing with this compound with your doctor.
What is L-lysine?
As stated earlier, L-lysine is an amino acid, and it is responsible for the production of carnitine. Carnitine is vital as it is responsible for converting fatty acids into pure energy. L-lysine is also responsible for supporting the production of collagen as well as enhancing protein development.
Although this compound is essential for a healthy body, your body cannot naturally produce L-lysine, thus it must be consumed through dietary sources or supplements. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, L-lysine is an important compound capable of enhancing your body’s ability to absorb calcium, thus it is typically given to osteoporosis patients.
L-lysine and Hair Loss:
Because L-lysine is directly used for the development of proteins, it may help indirectly support hair growth as hair is made out of protein. According to a study published by the Clinical and Experimental Dermatology journal, women who were given L-lysine and iron supplements experienced a significant reduction in hair shedding, or hair loss. Researchers believe that this benefit is caused by the amino acids found in L-lysine.
Dosage Recommendations:
The daily recommended intake of L-lysine is between 500 and 1,000 milligrams per day, which may be consumed through dietary sources or supplements. You may find L-lysine in foods such as red meat, nuts, pork, poultry, Parmesan cheese, sardines, soybeans and eggs.
References:
http://library.thinkquest.org/26829/3-index_e.htm
Oracle ThinkQuest Education Foundation: The Human Hair
http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/lysine-000312.htm
University of Maryland Medical Center: Lysine
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12190640
Clinical and Experimental Dermatology: Nutritional Factors and Hair Loss